Multiple nozzle self-propelled sprayer



vN. J. IVERSON MULTIPLE NozzLE SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYER Filed Feb.' 12. 1945 s sums-sheet 1 W. Jlvemswz/ INVENroR.

Irre/Mers'.

N. J. IVERSON MULTIPLE NOZZLE SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYER Aug. 19, 1947.

Filed Feb. l2, 1945 3 Shets-Sheet 2 ZVJIvew'oz IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 19, 1947. N. J. lvERsoN MULTIPLE NOZZLE S-ELF-PROPELLED SPRAYER Filed Feb. l2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet S INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE NOZZLE SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYER Claims.

rIl'he device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be employed for applying paint, by air pressure, to the hull of a ship.

Functionally considered, the objects of the invention are to avoid the wasting of paint or the like through loss resulting from wind, to save time and labor in the application of a coating, to eliminate health hazards, and to secure a uniform coating.

The invention aims to provide a carriage of novel form and means for mounting it on the hull of a ship to travel therealong, a rack being suspended from the carriage, the rack carrying the instrumentality whereby the paint is applied immediately. The invention aims, further, to provide novel means for keeping the rack in the properrelation to the hull of the ship, and for controlling the passage of air and paint to the applying nozzles.

A mechanic who abides by what is claimed, may make such changes as his skill may direct, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows, in front elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 4 is a section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view showing part of the adjusting means for the suspended frame;

Figure 8 is an elevation showing the means for operating certain of the valves.

In carrying out the invention, there is prov-ided a substantially horizontal track I, in the form Yof a trough, the rear wall of the trough being supplied with suspension hooks 2, carrying set screws 3, the hooks and the screws constituting'means whereby the track I may be mounted on the bulwarks of a vessel, the hull I-I of which is to be painted.

A carriage C is mounted to move along the track I. The carriage C includes a housing d, in the form of an inverted trough. From the lower edge vof the forward wall of the housing ll, a horizontal platform 5 projects. The platform 5 is sustained by brackets 6, which connect it with the forward wall of the trough or housing 4,

Axles 'I 'and 8 are mounted in the housing d, near the ends thereof; The axle 'I carries a 2 wheel 9. A wheel IU is secured to the axle 8. The wheels 9 and I0 are adapted to roll along the track I.

The wheel 9 is an idle wheel, meaning thereby that no power is applied to it. The wheel 9 is adapted to be engaged by brake mechanism II, mounted on the endmost of the brackets 6. The brake mechanism II may be of any desired construction, and is so located that an operator, standing on the platform 5, may actuate it.y

The wheel IE is power driven, since the axle 8 which carries it is connected by reduction gearing I 2, of any desired construction, with a motor I4, mounted on the platform 5. The prime mover I4 may be an electrical motor, but, in any event, it is reversible.

A frame F is disposed below the platform 5. The frame F is V-shaped `in cross section as Figures 6, 4 and 5 show. The frame F embodies vertical side posts I5 and a vertical intermediate post I6, connected at their upper ends by top rail I'I, and at their lower ends byva bottom rail I8. As Figure 4 discloses, the rails I'I and I8 are V- shaped in plan.

The posts I5 and I5 have projections I9, in which rungs 26 are secured. The rungs 2l`form parts of ladders, whereby an operator may ascend to the platform 5. Wind shields 2| 4extend between'the side posts I5 and the intermediate post I6, and prevent the paint from being blown about, as it is applied by an instrumentality to be set forth hereinafter. The wind shields -2I are detachable.

Depending guides 22 are carried by the lower rail I8, and in them, slide rods 23 are mounted for horizontal adjustment. Anti-friction members 24 are mounted on the outer ends of the slide rods 23 and, preferably, are wheels mounted to rotate about vertical axes. The wheels 24 are adapted to bear against the hull H of a ship, to space the frame F from the hull, and to do so -without unnecessary friction, the throwing of an unnecessary load on the propulsion motor Ill thereby being avoided.

In order to prevent the frame F from having a side-swing, downwardly and forwardly extended braces 35 are pivoted at 3E to ears 31 o n the intermediate post I6, the braces having sliding adjustment in guides `'38 on the platform 5, set screws 39, Fig. 1, being threaded into the guides, and 'being adapted to engage the braces, to vary their effective lengths.

The frame F is suspended pivotally from the carriage C, for swinging adjustment toward and away from the hull H which is to be painted.

With that end in View, the apex of the upper end of the frame F is connected by a ball socket joint |39 or the like with the forward portion of the platform 5, as shown in Figure 3. A cross bar 40 (Figure 4) connects opposing portions of the top rail I1 of the frame F. On the platform 5 (Figure 7) are mounted brackets 4 I wherein nuts 42 are pivoted. Hand screws 43 are threaded through the nuts 42 and are connected by ball and socket joints 44 with the end portions of the cross bar 40.

Conduits 45 and 46 extend along the platform 5 and downwardly along the vertical, forward angle of the frame F, the conduits including flexible upper portions 41, which permit swinging adjustment of the frame F toward and away from the hull H by means of the hand screws 43. One of the conduits 45-,46 is a compressed air conduit, and the other is a paint conduit. The conduits 45 and 46 are connected to the forward portion of the frame F by brackets 48 as shown in Figure 3.

Hand valves 49 are interposed in the upper portions of the conduits I5- 46, above the platform 5, and there are hand valves 50 in the lower portions of the conduits. Paint and compressed air, therefore, may be fed upwardly or downwardly through the conduits, at the will of an operator, and as convenience may require.

A plurality of vertically spaced pairs of valves are in communication with the conduits 45 and 45, the valves of each pair being connected at 52 with a nozzle 53, there being a vertical line of nozzles discharging toward the hull H of the ship. The valves 5| are opened and closed by crank arms 54, detachably connected by studs 55 and cotter pins 55, or in any other appropriate way, with the side arms of an inverted, U-shaped operating member 51, to the upper end of which is secured a handle 58 mounted at 59 for reciprocation on the upper portions of the frame F, the platform 5 having an opening through which the handle passes in order that the valves 5I may be opened and closed conveniently from above the platform 5.

In practical operation, swinging adjustment of the frame F toward and away from the hull H of the ship may be brought about by manipulating the hand screws ,43 of Figure 3, the frame pivoting on the ball and socket joint shown at |39. The frame F is held in any position to which it may have been adjusted, as before said, through the instrumentality of the braces 35 of Figure 1.

The carriage C is caused to move along the track by a'train of parts including the motor I4, the reduction gearing I2, the axle 8 and the wheel III.

By way of the handle 58 and the operating member 51, the valves 5| may be opened. As to the conduits 45 and 4B, they deliver paint and compressed air to the valves 5|, and from the valves the paint and the compressed air ow through the connections 52 to the nozzles 53. Since there is a vertical line of nozzles, extending throughout practically the entire height of the frame F, a wide section of the hull H will be painted, as the carriage C moves along the track I, the wheels 24 being in contact with the hull of the vessel. The movement of the carriage C may be stopped by cutting off the motor I4, the brake mechanism II being applied. Since the lmotor I4 is a reversing motor, the carriage C may be moved ln opposite directions along the track I.

It may be that the operator does not desire t0 have all of the vertically spaced nozzles 53 in operation at the same time. Under such circumstances, he may remove the cotter pins of Figure 8 from the studs 55 on such of the arms 54 as is desired, the corresponding pairs of valves becoming inoperative and remaining in a closed position, the operating member 51 and its handle 58 constituting means for opening and closing the other valves 5|.

As shown best in Figure 6, the posts I5 of the frame F may be connected, wherever necessary, by one or more tie-rods I5', to aid in avoiding spreading.

What is claimed is:

l. In a machine for applying a coating, a track, means for mounting the track in an elevated position on an object to be coated, a carriage movable along the track, a frame depending from the carriage, an applying means mounted on the carriage, anti-friction members engageable with the object to be coated, and means for mounting the anti-friction members on the carriage for adjustment toward and away from the object to be coated.

2. In a machine for applying a coating, a track, means for mounting the track in elevated position on an object to be coated, a carriage movable along the track, a frame depending from the carriage, an applying means mounted on the frame, anti-friction members engageable with the object to be coated, means for mounting the anti-friction members on the lower portion of the frame for adjustment toward and away from the object to be coated, and braces of adjustably variable lengths, having their adjacent ends mounted on the frame and their remote ends assembled with the frame.

3. In a machine for applying a coating, a track, means for mounting the track in a substantially horizontal position upon an object to be coated, a carriage movable along the track, a frame depending from the carriage, and applying devices mounted on the frame, the frame comprising rails and connections between the rails, the connections being offset from the rails and being spaced from each other vertically at such distances as to constitute an effective ladder for ascent to the carriage.

4. In a coating machine, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage for substantially horizontal movement along an object to be coated, a frame depending from the carriage, superposed nozzles on the frame, a conduit discharging into the nozzles, valves individual to the nozzles and controlling the flow from the conduit into the nozzles, crank arms forming parts of the valves, an operating member extended upwardly above the carriage, and connections between the operating member and the crank arms, the connections being readily releasable, whereby any nozzle will remain closed when the operating member is actuated, to open other nozzles.

5. In a machine for applying a coating to an object, a substantially horizontal track, means for mounting the track in an elevated position on an object to Ibe coated, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage on the track for movement therealong, a frame, means for suspending the frame from the carriage, an applying'mechanism mounted on the frame, said applying mechanism comprising a plurality of nozzles mounted on the frame in operatively spaced relation, conduits supplying coating material and air pressure to each nozzle, the conduits being mounted on NEAL JEROME IVERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 998,579 Herz July 18, 1911 2,203,851 Tucci June 11, 1940 10 2,367,594 Madison Jan. 16, 1945 2,370,780 Crom Mar. 6, 1945 2,293,881 Bailey Aug. 25, 1942 

